How does a museum transform 80 million objects into a world-class bird exhibition?
In short: Behind the scenes at the Natural History Museum, experts like conservator Nikki Harrison and mount maker Darren Dickson orchestrate the complex installation of exhibitions. From the wonderchicken to blood-drinking finches, discover the meticulous process required to bring the story of over 11,000 avian species to life for the public.
Preparing an exhibition like Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre requires more than just displaying specimens; it involves a sophisticated blend of conservation science and structural artistry. Conservators and mount makers work in tandem to ensure that delicate artifacts, ranging from ancient fossils to modern taxidermy, are safely installed and visually compelling. This process is essential for a museum that manages a vast collection of over 80 million objects, including meteorites and dinosaur bones.
The exhibition, which ran from 24 May 2024 to 5 January 2025, invited visitors to explore the evolutionary success of birds. It highlighted how these creatures survived the mass extinction that eliminated other dinosaurs and evolved into the 11,000 distinct species seen today. Curators utilized interactive elements to bridge the gap between scientific data and public engagement, allowing guests to experience everything from the sound of a dawn chorus to the unique biology of seabird eggs.
Beyond the spectacle, the exhibition served as a platform for citizen science, specifically showcasing data from the Big Garden Birdwatch. By integrating information on common species like House Sparrows and Starlings with exotic examples—such as the blood-feeding Vampire Finches of the Galapagos or the song-learning Zebra Finches of Australia—the museum aimed to foster a deeper understanding of avian life. The project also addressed the environmental challenges birds face today, encouraging a dialogue on how human activity impacts their survival and what can be done to protect their future.
Ultimately, the installation process is a testament to the museum's role as both a repository of history and a center for modern scientific communication. By combining the expertise of specialists with the latest research, the institution transforms static collections into immersive narratives. This approach ensures that visitors leave not only with a sense of wonder but with a clearer perspective on the complex, often bizarre, biological mechanisms that allow birds to thrive across every continent on Earth.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How do we prepare for an exhibition? | Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre
- Also: Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre | Natural History Museum
- Also: Exhibition - Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre, at the Natural History Museum - Central London Local Group
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